Vegeta's posh attitude

[Yuji]

Vegeta went from a barbarian who'd eat his opponent's corpse and would use underhanded tactics such as throwing dirt in his opponents' eye, to being this posh, proud aristocrat who snarks at eating bugs and is afraid of worms. In general, his mannerisms also changed, with his feminine leg cross and other more queer-coded gestures.

I think this change in characterization started around the Android arc as his princely side came out more. But besides Toriyama thinking it was funny to juxtapose a snobby aristocrat with Goku's low class lifestyle in comedic situations, would there be an in-universe reason for this change?

[Chuquita]

Freeza. Even though Vegeta hates Freeza, he lived under Freeza's control for 30 years; his childhood, teenage and young adult life; there's a subconscious impact made on him about power and how those with power act.

Much of Vegeta's physical posh gestures are in the same vein as Freeza's even though he obviously doesn't speak aristocratically like Freeza does.

[Yasai9001]

Vegeta went from a barbarian who'd eat his opponent's corpse and would use underhanded tactics such as throwing dirt in his opponents' eye, to being this posh, proud aristocrat who snarks at eating bugs and is afraid of worms. In general, his mannerisms also changed, with his feminine leg cross and other more queer-coded gestures.

I think this change in characterization started around the Android arc as his princely side came out more. But besides Toriyama thinking it was funny to juxtapose a snobby aristocrat with Goku's low class lifestyle in comedic situations, would there be an in-universe reason for this change?

I suppose the in-universe explanation would have to be that Vegeta eventually realized there is far more to life and also came to the realization as to precisely how grotesque some of the things he did was (like eating live humanoid bugs and things of that nature); for example, let's say in the real world you grow up in a neighborhood that glamorizes war, wrongdoings, and lawlessness above all else - you don't have nor remotely understand the simple luxuries and most basic accommodations of life and your parents probably care about you just enough or a little bit. Vegeta only was raised how to fight since he was a kid - not just fight, but kill. Some people in real life don't even move out of their own block. Being twenty minutes or thirty minutes out of the way is "out of town" to them. A lot of simple things can be foreign to people - like there are real life people that have killed yet never lost their virginity and never will since they're either locked up or dead.

Vegeta likely didn't get to experience pleasantries or happy feelings of GOOD and a GOOD TIME (his idea of a good time was beheadings, cracking bones, breaking skulls, and snapping necks) - no television, no parents to read him to sleep, or be held by his parents like a child would want to. He practically had to raise himself. Had no father figure and had to look up to Freeza and others for guidance in regards to strength, and if not them, then himself. Showing weakness as a Saiyan was already looked down upon. Being the prince of a warrior race? He had to be the most ruthless, callous, and prideful Saiyan there was.

Being on Earth and getting to see how simple life could be likely had an affect on him. Bulma was also a big reasoning for that and probably showed him the better side to life. A vacation for Vegeta back then was probably akin to sleeping in his pod until he got to the next planet or just standing around while Nappa, Raditz, and their two unnamed comrades took care of most the dirty work. And even though Freeza could have all different types of food from different worlds within his organization, Beerus and Whis have shown us time and time again that nothing...and NOTHING...compares to Earth's food. The meals are so delicious that Vegeta has refined his taste (he's real bougie now lol).

Vegeta's mid-life crisis probably revolved around in not just Goku being stronger but realizing that so many people have had it easy while he was working for the man who slaved him after destroying his home-planet; having to think back on your own past with the full picture really can mess with one's mind and having the support of Bulma and maybe even others helped Vegeta a lot, but he's just too prideful to admit certain things.

I hope this makes sense to anyone reading.

[Slangh]

People act differently in different contexts and with changing motivations. Vegeta sneaking around and wiping out all who stand in his way to overthrow Freeza is a completely different man than rival to Goku-Vegeta, who is again different from family man-Vegeta after Goku died.

Earthlings had this subtle influence on him just by being around them. Bulma had good food, her house was like a palace and she was pretty much a princess herself. To top it all off she wasn't scared of him in the slightest, which must have impressed him and make him feel safe deep down inside. Also, he called her "vulgar" so that must have motivated him to be less vulgar himself, becoming truly prince-like.

The whole Majin thing makes sense too. Having Goku back for just one day triggered his older self to the point of obsession, only for him to realize that the "family man" persona had taken a much deeper root than he thought. Not even Babidi's magic could remove it. Even after his first attack on the stadium you could see Vegeta was bluffing his "coldness".

[Saiya6Cit]

First of all, sitting with legs crossed is not inherently feminine or masculine. It's a common sitting position for both men and women, and it's often a matter of comfort and preference. Some individuals may find it more comfortable than others, and there's no specific gender association with this posture. But I do it, and I am short. Vegeta is short too, he is 1.64 mts, very similar to me and I can tell you by personal experience that sitting like that is indeed comfy.

Second, the only queer coded thing in dragon ball is this guy who got a job in CapsuleCorp to be near Trunks: https://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/a ... 00bwp.webp

Vegeta changed because of Bulma's luxury and their relationship in general, I mean I have not much left to say after Yasai9001's explanation that make much sense.

[Yuji]

It's definitely seen as a more feminine sitting position. I sit that way too and I can admit it, it doesn't matter.

[JulieYBM]

Shounen comics and anime are exceedingly queer-coded. Queerness has been in the human species since our inception. Queer language has existed in the arts just as long.

Dragon Ball also has multiple canonically queer characters. Dragon Ball appeals to queer audiences, even when its depiction of textually queer characters spits in their faces, like in the case of General Blue and Otoko Suki, or not fully biting the bullet with the obviously Caulifla and Kale. Hell, the strongest known character in Universe 7 is Whis, a man so fruity you could buy him on your EBT card.

The things you (general) like are queer and if you think that makes you (general) queer somehow, well, too bad, go do something gay and live a little.

It's definitely seen as a more feminine sitting position. I sit that way too and I can admit it, it doesn't matter.

May I introduce you to the bisexual chair?

Artists, please draw Vegeta in the bisexual chair, please, please, please, please, please, thank you.

[MasenkoHA]

Shounen comics and anime are exceedingly queer-coded. Queerness has been in the human species since our inception. Queer language has existed in the arts just as long.

Dragon Ball also has multiple canonically queer characters. Dragon Ball appeals to queer audiences, even when its depiction of textually queer characters spits in their faces, like in the case of General Blue and Otoko Suki, or not fully biting the bullet with the obviously Caulifla and Kale. Hell, the strongest known character in Universe 7 is Whis, a man so fruity you could buy him on your EBT card.

The things you (general) like are queer and if you think that makes you (general) queer somehow, well, too bad, go do something gay and live a little.

Dragon Ball Z is also a prime example of how the male gaze frames men. It’s a long dead cliche for reactionaries to counter argue against the male gaze as it’s directed at women by pointing out men are often depicted muscular and shirtless in media but uh it’s mostly men drawing, directing, filming these works. It’s a male power fantasy. And while it does have a significant female following (more so after Future Trunks was introduced hmm I wonder why), Dragon Ball is significantly less popular with the female demographic than say Yuyu Hakusho or Naruto.


I don’t think Toriyama secretly wanted to fuck dudes but he was creating a comic for young boys that contained a lot of shirtless muscular men. “I don’t want this I want to look like this” But it’s not surprising some of that male audience also wanted to fuck them.

[JulieYBM]

Shounen comics and anime are exceedingly queer-coded. Queerness has been in the human species since our inception. Queer language has existed in the arts just as long.

Dragon Ball also has multiple canonically queer characters. Dragon Ball appeals to queer audiences, even when its depiction of textually queer characters spits in their faces, like in the case of General Blue and Otoko Suki, or not fully biting the bullet with the obviously Caulifla and Kale. Hell, the strongest known character in Universe 7 is Whis, a man so fruity you could buy him on your EBT card.

The things you (general) like are queer and if you think that makes you (general) queer somehow, well, too bad, go do something gay and live a little.

Dragon Ball Z is also a prime example of how the male gaze frames men. It’s a long dead cliche for reactionaries to counter argue against the male gaze as it’s directed at women by pointing out men are often depicted muscular and shirtless in media but uh it’s mostly men drawing, directing, filming these works. It’s a male power fantasy. And while it does have a significant female following (more so after Future Trunks was introduced hmm I wonder why), Dragon Ball is significantly less popular with the female demographic than say Yuyu Hakusho or Naruto.


I don’t think Toriyama secretly wanted to fuck dudes but he was creating a comic for young boys that contained a lot of shirtless muscular men. “I don’t want this I want to look like this” But it’s not surprising some of that male audience also wanted to fuck them.

Growing up, I was very aware of those shirtless men and paid great attention to detail about how unique said phenomenon was compared fo what I saw in American shows.

I imagine that Zarbon was Toriyama thumbing his nose at Kondou Yuu's editorial pushing to make Dragon Ball more popular with girls, but I do know that among myself and the girl who introduced me to Dragon Ball, it remained a title we both liked for quite a number of years.

We moved on to anime with prettier men as more was coming out in that late 1990s and early 2000s era, too